Eddie Van Halen has emergency surgery, more tour dates postponed

Van Halen has canceled the Japanese leg of its world tour after a health scare for guitarist
Eddie Van Halen.

"Eddie Van Halen underwent an emergency surgery for a severe bout of diverticulitis," the band
says in a statement on its website. "No further surgeries are needed and a full recovery is expected within 4-6 months. Van Halen's scheduled November 2012 tour of Japan is currently being rescheduled and the band looks forward to seeing and playing for their fans in 2013."

The news comes after the band
postponed 31 summer dates in the United States. No explanation was given at the time, but there was speculation that the band, famously fractious in the
David Lee Roth era, was fighting again. The early part of the tour, though, had seemed to go well, with Roth once again fronting and the band playing to strong crowds.

Eddie Van Halen's surgery for diverticulitis is the latest in a series of medical issues for the guitar player. He had a hip replacement in 1999 and underwent treatment for tongue cancer soon after that.